Why a Synthetic Hockey pitch?

The artificial surfaces of a synthetic hockey pitch give the players more handle of the ball. Coupled with elevated ball speed, hockey has turn out to be a faster and more thrilling game.

Added information on Field Hockey pitch and creating there of.

A hockey pitch is the playing surface for the game of field hockey. Historically, the game was played on organic turf (grass) but at present it is predominantly played on an artificial turf. The transition onto artificial pitches came in the course of the 1970s and was developed mandatory for important competitions in 1976. All the lines, markings and target specifications are outlined by the International Hockey Federation in “The Recommendations of Hockey”.

All line markings on the pitch variety element of the area which they define. For instance, a ball on the side line is nonetheless in the field of play a ball on the line of the penalty circle is in the penalty circle a foul committed much more than the 23-metre (25-yard) line has occurred in the 23-metre area. A ball need to have to totally cross a boundary line to be out of play, and a ball need to have to wholly cross the target line ahead of a target is scored.

Due to the original formulation of the suggestions in England, the standard dimensions of a hockey pitch have been initially expressed in imperial units. The suggestions are now expressed explicitly in metric dimensions (contemplating the reality that 1998), even though the use of the imperial terms remains standard in some nations

Field of play on a hockey pitch

Colored pitches are produced use of to distinguish the field of play (green or blue) from the run-off (red/blue/yellow/orange/and so forth).

The hockey pitch is rectangular in shape. The longer perimeter edges are referred to as the side line, the opposing shorter edges are referred as the back line and the portion of this amongst the target posts is identified as the target line. The side line need to have to measure 91.40 m and the back line have to measure 55.00 m. There need to have to be a minimum run-off of two m at the sidelines and 3 m at the backlines which may possibly be a distinctive surface for the final meter. All line markings need to have to be white and 75 millimeters wide. In just about every corner of the pitch, a corner flag of no more than 300 mm square is attached to a post of height 1.20–1.50 m.

Historically, the pitch dimensions have been imperial and have been replaced by metric equivalents in 1998. The 1st recorded suggestions represented what London clubs have been applying at the time. Surbiton Hockey Club’s minutes from 1876 stated that pitches have been to be “100–150 yards (91–137 m) lengthy and 50–80 yards (46–73 m) wide”. Recommendations by the Hockey Association of England in 1886 specified “a single hundred yards lengthy by 55 to 60 yards (50 to 55 m) wide”.34 In 1905, the International Recommendations Board permitted the width of the pitch to be “up to 66 yards (60 m)” but this choice was reversed in 1909.5 In 1975, the present width of 60 yards was written into the suggestions.34

On artificial surfaces, the field of play have to be coloured green, ultramarine blue or signal blue. It is permitted for the run-off portion of the pitch to be an choice colour. The London 2012 Olympics started a new trend for blue hockey pitches, for the purpose that blue turf aids television viewers to clearly see the ball and markings on the hockey pitch in the course of gameplay. Not all hockey pitches have to be blue, but a yellow ball on blue turf is now the standard for specialist field hockey tournaments.

Goal

A hockey target at the 1960 Summer season time Olympics. The target is deeper at ground level with side and backboards about the base.

Targets consist of two upright posts placed equidistant from the center of the backline, joined at the major by a horizontal crossbar. The inner edges of the posts need to have to be 3.66 metres apart, and the minimize edge of the crossbar need to have to be two.14 metres (7 ft) above the ground. The goalposts and crossbar need to have to be white and rectangular in shape with width 50 millimetres and a depth of 50 to 75 millimeters (.

The target need to have to be at least 1.20 m deep at ground level and at least .90 m deep at crossbar level. The target area need to have to be delimited at ground level by a target backboard and two sideboards of height 460 millimetres (18 in). Affixed to these boards, the posts and crossbar is a net to quit the ball.eight

Hockey nets can come in distinctive dimensions primarily based on how deep at ground level and at crossbar level the target is. Popular dimensions for a standard field hockey net are about 3.7m (W) x two.1m (H) x 1.2m (D).7

The 1st hockey targets have been “7 feet (two.1 m) tall posts placed six yards (5.5 m) apart” but have been lowered to 4 yards (3.7 m) apart in the 1886 suggestions. In 1987, a rule was introduced so that at penalty corners “the 1st hit at target have to not cross the target-line higher than 18 inches (460 mm)”. This saw the introduction of a sideboard and backboard to the targets which are now mandatory.34

Circle

A view of the penalty circle (robust line), the broken circle 5 m from it, and the penalty spot.

A target is scored when the ball passes totally much more than the target line but only if the ball was played by an offensive player in the penalty circle. Additionally, the circle marks the area a goalkeeper may possibly play the ball with any element of his physique and the area specifically exactly where an infringement by a defender outcomes in a penalty corner. The terminology circle (or D) is extensively produced use of even though the area is genuinely formed by a 3.66-metre (4 yd) straight line, parallel to the target line, connected to two 14.63-metre (16 yd) quadrant arcs.910

The 1876 suggestions stated that “no targets shall be permitted if the ball be hit from a distance of more than 15 yards (14 m) from the nearest goalpost”. A visible “striking circle” with “radius of 15 yards” was codified in 1886.34 The radius of the circle was elevated to 16 yards (15 m) in 1951 for men’s hockey and 1968 for women’s hockey.5 Any entirely totally free-hit inside 5 m of the circle has slightly distinctive suggestions from other men and women relating to other players’ distance a broken circle 5 m from the penalty circle denotes this spot.ten

A penalty spot is centrally positioned straight in front of the target and produced use of for a penalty stroke. The spot is 150 mm in diameter and its centre is six.475 m from the outdoors of the target line.ten Penalty strokes have been introduced in 1963 for deliberately stopping a certain goal3 they have been initially taken eight yards (7.3 m) from target. In 1973, a stroke could also be awarded for a deliberate foul in the circle and the spot was moved to 7 yards (six.4 m) from target the following year.5

Other markings

Simon Gougnard prepares to take a penalty corner from the ten m mark. The 5 m line above demarcates the closest position a defender may possibly stand.

A half-way line, parallel to the back line, divides the pitch in two. The get began of just about every period of play and resumption of play following a target starts with all players in the half they are defending. The line was also produced use of for the obselete offside rule.3

Just about every half of the pitch is then divided when once more by a line, referred to as the 23 metre line or 25 yard line, positioned 22.90 m11 from just about every back line. Historically, this was 1st produced use of to resume play appropriate immediately after the ball passed much more than the back line and marked by flags at the side of the pitch. In 1949, deliberate defensive offenses in this area resulted in a penalty corner. From 1961, players on the defensive group who have been not involved at the penalty corner stood behind this line (this was then moved to the half-way line two years later). The line was also produced use of for the offside rule amongst 1987 till the rule was abolished in 1996.3 Right now, there are detailed suggestions with regards to fouls and entirely totally free-hits in the 23 metre region of the pitch.12 Thinking of that 2015, the 23 metre line has also been produced use of for the attacking group to resume play when it has gone much more than the back line (this replaced lengthy corners).13

There are added markings 300 mm lengthy and perpendicular to the back line that denote distances of ten m and 5 m from just about every target post. These are relevant at a penalty corner the former is the mark from which the attacking group demands the penalty corner and the latter is the closest position which a defender may possibly stand. These marks had been 5 and ten yards (4.six and 9.1 m) in earlier versions of the suggestions.3 There is a connected mark 5 m from along the side line (from specifically exactly where lengthy corners have been formerly taken) and a mark 14.six m along the side line indicating the level of the major of the penalty circle. There are also 150 mm lengthy markings specifically exactly where the target posts are situated.14

Artificial playing surface

“artificial grass permits easier ball handle and this in itself aids to reduce down the quantity of infringements of the rules—which indicates substantially much less whistle and fewer stoppages. The game therefore becomes easier to comply with, as effectively as receiving a faster spectacle and significantly more fascinating from a spectator point of view.”

Historically, the game was developed on organic grass turf. Possessing mentioned that, in 1976, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) developed artificial pitches mandatory at all important competitions.17 The 1976 Summer season time Olympics in Montreal was the 1st of these even so at this time handful of players had noticed or played on synthetic pitches.18 Whilst it is nonetheless permissible to play on organic turf all national competitions and international matches need to have to be played on an artificial surface.19 Elite-level competitions, such as the Olympic Games and Planet Cup, need to have a water-mostly primarily based playing surface. Possessing mentioned that, due to water conservation efforts, this is not noticed as a lengthy-term sustainable choice and choice elite surfaces that do not need to have water are receiving researched.20

There are three most crucial types of artificial hockey pitch surface:

   • Unfilled or water-mostly primarily based – artificial fibers that are densely packed for stabilization, demands irrigation or watering to keep away from pitch place on

    • Dressed or sand-dressed – artificial fibers can be substantially much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for element of the pile depth

    • Filled or sand-filled – artificial fibers can be longer and substantially much less densely packed and sand supports the fibers for a single hundred% of the pile depth

On water-mostly primarily based pitches, shorter fibers and wetted turf reduce down friction and enhance the speed at which the game can be played. Possessing mentioned that, these pitches need to have watering ahead of, in the course of and appropriate immediately after the game and upkeep costs are crucial.

Sand-dressed pitches cost more than sand-filled pitches but are preferable for hockey as there is an absence of sand close to the playing surface. Possessing mentioned that, a multi-objective surface acceptable for sports which consists of association football and tennis is commonly anticipated and hockey may possibly not be the predominant sport. There are fairly a handful of distinctive specifications and categorizations for artificial turf which consists of shock absorption, surface rebound, friction, and strength outlined by the International Hockey Federation.26 Lately, longer-pile third-generation or 3G pitches have turn out to be nicely-identified, especially for football, but these do not usually meet the FIH’s test criteria they are commonly as nicely inconsistent and slow.27

Criticism

The Planet Hockey magazine reported on the 1st hockey tournament played on an artificial pitch in 1975—a trial occasion in Montreal prior to the Olympics—and pointed out the surface had “substantial added advantages”.1516 Steve Ruskin, of Sports Illustrated, pointed out that “A slow, analytical game gave way to a single of nonstop, appropriate-hop action.”28 Possessing mentioned that, it has been stated that the choice to make artificial surfaces mandatory substantially favored more affluent Western nations who could afford these new pitches.29 Just prior to the switch to an artificial surface the Indian men’s hockey group have been dominant, winning seven of the eight Olympic gold medals amongst 1928 and 1964.28 In 1996, Indian hockey player Ajit Pal Singh stated that in spite of its size ” can afford only 12 or so Artificial Turf fields”.Sardara Singh, captain of the Indian men’s hockey group, pointed out that “hockey players in India play on astroturf [sic] for the 1st time at the age of 19 or 20 and uncover it challenging to adapt.”29 Possessing mentioned that, the Pakistan hockey group have performed effectively following the modify of surface in spite of the nation receiving worse off economically and possessing fewer artificial pitches.16 When describing the modify of surface, Ruskin pointed out that “for India it was like starting much more than, with all nations even in field hockey